Babe alarm



D. B. CRAFTS Oct. 13, I959 BABE ALARM Filed Dec. 18, 1956 INVENTOR D.B.CRAFTS United States This invention relates or pertains to the care of infants and small children upon which attention is expended in the care and upbringing of the same, including during sleeping hours as well as to other situations where it is desirable to keep a check on conditions, and more particularly to an alarm system by which change in conditions may be determined if and when the same seems advisable or desirable.

Specifically, the invention relates to a system having a signal perceptible to the senses such as one which is either visible or audible and which is activated by energy such as that transmitted upon the completion of a line electric circuit with the contacts of a circuit closer normally urged toward closed position but maintained separate by means of an interposed medium such as a blanket or bed cover used over an infant or small child.

When children are put to bed in quarters other than those occupied by their parents or elders, ordinarily they are tucked in for the night, however they do not always remain quiet but sometimes kick ofi? the covers so that their little bodies are not kept warm or at the proper temperature, and colds and other complications result.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the attention required to be given to infants and small children by providing a device by which it can be determined when a condition such as the removal of a blanket or other cover has occurred.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical system having circuit closers between the separable portions of which is adapted to be inserted a blanket or cover and by means of the removal of which the change in condition will be perceptible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal, energizing means therefor, and circuit closers, all mounted on an easily portable panel with a hook by which it can be suspended from a convenient support such as a doorknob and with a relatively simple circuit closer such as a conventional spring clothespin with metal facings for the jaws and to which facings conductors are attached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective of the invention with the cover for the dry cells removed;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal section through the circuit closer of Fig.' 2; and

Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a relatively small panel on which is mounted signal such as a bell and dry cells with conductors for supplying energy to additional conductors and circuit closers having a pair of jaws between which a blanket or other covering for a small child or infant is adapted to be inserted and held.

With continued reference to the drawing, a relatively small panel is provided which can be easily carried in the hand and on which is mounted a bell 11 or other "ice device for giving a signal when energized as, for example, by dry cells 12 from which energy is supplied to the coils 13 of the bell through conductors 14. One of such conductors id has a plug 15 with openings for the reception of complementary plug 16 to which are attached conductors having circuit closers 18 and 18'.

The circuit closers 18 and 18 are in the form of conventional spring clothespins on which the conductors 17 are mounted and the extremities of which are attached to a metal plate 19 and extend around each of the jaws of the clothespin and with the metal of each jaw provided with complementary convex contact portions 20. A blanket 21 is adapted to be inserted between the contact portions 20 in order to maintain them apart, however, when the cover is removed from between the contacts they come together so that electrical current may flow and cause the alarm 11 to be activated.

The panel 10 is adapted to be provided with a hook 22 by means of which it may be suspended from a doorknob 23 or other support, the doorknob being part of a door 24 in a wall 25 forming a part of a room in which a crib 2 6 is adapted to be located.

The dry cells 12 are adapted to be provided with a cover or casing 27 having attaching extensions 28 with openings 29 for the reception of conventional screws or other attaching means 30.

Two or more circuit closers joined in parallel may be spaced around the extremity of the blanket to make certain that the baby is covered.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a relatively small practical device is provided which can be easily transported and placed upon the floor, furniture, on a doorknob or the like and attached to the babys blanket so that if the cover is kicked oii an alarm will be sounded.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A readily portable signalling device for indicating the displacement of bed cover from about an infant in a bed comprising a relatively small base panel, means for suspending said panel from a support, signalling means mounted on said panel, means on said panel for supplying electrical energy to said signalling means, electrical conductors providing an electrical circuit between said means for supplying electrical energy and said signalling means, circuit controlling means interposed in said circuit for cont1 olling said signalling means, and means for securing said circuit controlling means to the bed, said circuit controlling means having relatively movable jaws biased toward each other and constructed to be maintained in spaced relation by bed cover located therebetween and with said jaws having opposed contact points which will engage and complete a circuit and operate said signalling means when the cover is removed from between said relatively movable jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,399 Blank Feb. 21, 1905 850,287 Bennett Apr. 16, 1907 1,030,196 Lucier June 18, 1912 1,305,190 Bobo May 27, 1919 1,534,363 Day Apr. 21, 1925 2,228,120 Koehler Jan. 7, 1941 2,260,715 Ketchem Oct. 28, 1941 2,640,894 Krueger June 2, 1953 

